Potato slicer



March 1,1927.

l. H. MILLER POTATO SLICER Filed Feb. 26, 192e 2 sheets-smet 1 .mMD

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS F. H. MlLLER POTATO SLICER March 1 1927.

Filed Feb. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLMME Y BY M' ATTORNEYS PatentedMar. 1, 1927.

helmet FREDERICK H. MILLER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

POTATO SLCER.

Application filed February 26, 1926. Serial No. 90,525.' c

This invention relates to potato Slicers designed for quickly andefliciently slicing potatoes for use in the well-known French fried,julienne and shoe string styles and has particular reference to thattype of such devices as comprise stationary vertical and horizontalcutters over which the potatoes are moved to be sliced as desired.

My invention primarily has for its object to provide a potato Slicer ofthe type stated which is of a particularly simple and compactconstruction that maybe economically manufactured and which in spite ofits simplicity of construction is efficiently operable for the purposefor which it is designed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention still furtherresides in the novel details of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described andthen be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the vertical knives holder.

Figure l is a detail perspective view of one of the knife clamping andspacing plates.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a safetydevice for reciprocating the potatoes.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views illustrating samples of potatoslicings of the i French fried, julienne and shoe string types,respectively.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures, 1 indicates the base board ofiny invention whichis provided with a cut-out portion 2 to provide a socket for receiving,the knife housing unit and also for prov-iding the potato slicedischarging throatway 3.

A platea is secured to the bottom of the board l, as at 5, so as toprojectover a part of the cut-out portion 2, the said extended partserving as a means for securing, as at 6, the knife carrying housing 7.The housing 7 is in the nature of an open rectangular metal box having aseries of stepped shoulders 8, 9 and 10 in one end thereof, see Figuresland 3; f

The housing 7 is adapted to carry a plurality of spacer plates 11 andaplurality of 'vertically positioned blades 12, one thereof beingpositioned and clamped between each pair of adjacent spacerplates, theclamping action being provided for by a pair of set screws 13 directedthroughtapped holes inl one side wall ofthe said housing. These blades12 are clamped in vertical position and are equi-distantly spaced thespacer vtheother end thereof elevated or projected above the saidboardfand housing top surfaces so `as to `provide an inclined cuttingsurface, as shown in Figure 1 of the draf ings. VBy providing theshoulders the high i point of the cutting edge may be varied to threedifferent heights, it being understood that when the blades are adjustedupon the shoulder 8 the device will be set for slicing potatoes forFrench fries; when at 9, for juliennes, and when at 10, for the shoestring variety.

It may be understood, of course, that the housing with the knife bladesclamped in and carried thereby forms avertical cutting unit readilyremovable and replaceable and whichmay be readily knocked down for thepurpose of thorough cleansing. i

When it is desired to prepare the varied sizes of .potato slicesmentioned', the blades of the housing may be individuali i adjusted butit will probably vbe more convenient to have three ofthe units assembledso that the desired unit may bereadily fitted to position and secured bythe screw 6. i ln other words, three separate units may be provided,oneadjusted for cutting potatoes for French fries, oneadjusted forjuliennes and one for the shoe string variety. Obviously in either ofthe uses of the unit the provision of the three shoulders makes itpossible to construct all housings uniformly Y regardless of useeffecting great saving in manufact-ure.

The board 1 may be provided with suit-` able recesses 14@ at one sid-eof the cut out portion 2 to readily receive the set screws 13 when thehousing 7 is inserted to position in the said cut out and upon theextended end of the plate 4f.V

In practice, the-potato is to be moved forwardly over the verticalblades 12 for effecting the vertical equi-distantly spaced cuts thereinand into engagement with a cross knife positioned at a suitableelevation for severing the vertically sliced portions so as to providethe long square cuts for either of the three varied Vsizes of potatoesmentioned. If the device is set for cutting potatoes for French friesthe blades 12 will be adjusted upon the shoulder S and the spacer plates11 will be of a thickness corresponding to the height 'of projection ofthe blades 12. 'This is true in each of the other cases. The width' ofthe spacer plates is equal to the Vamount of projection of the bladesabove the top surfaces of the housingv 7 and board 1. i

rllhus, for eiiiciently cooperating with the blades 12 projected atvaried heights for the particular purposethe cross knife must be mountedina manner whereby it may be adjusted to position upon a levelcorresponding to the size of slices to be made. ln other words, theheight of the cross knife above'the board 1`.y the height to which theblades 12`are projected above the Vtop surface of that board, and thewidth of the spacerplates between the blad-es, i. e. the space betweenthe blades 12, are coincident.

To provide for this adjustable mounting of the cross knife I provide apair of opposed guide standards 15 which form vertical slide guides forthe guide bl-ocks 1G and have suitable bearings" for the adjuster'screws 17, one of'which is swivelly connected, as at 18, to eachoftheblocks 1G. Each bloc-k 16 is provided with a cross slit 19 forreceiving the cross knife 2O projectedtherethrough from side to sideacross the board 1, see Figures 1 and 2.

In order to suitablyv support the main body of the potato from which theslicings are cut as the said potato body is moved rearwardly over thecross knife 20, I provide asupporting plate 21 loosely connected to, tomove with, the guide block 16, as at 22, and rigidly secured tol theboard 1, as at 23, at a point beyond the slicings discharge throatway 3.may be Vprovided for by notching the guide blocks 16 and looselyprojecting the fore corners of the said plate into the said notches inthe manner indicated in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings.

As the otato is moved rearwardl over.

the vertically projected blades 1.2 equi-distantly spaced vertical kerfswill be cut in the under surface thereof and as the potato is forcedrearwardly beyond .the blades 12 it will come intoV contact with theforwardly projected cutting edge of the horizontal cross knife 20, andthe vertically cut p orti ons of the potato will be horizontally severedto provide long square slices suitable for use The loose connection at22 in the particular variety of fries for which the device has been set,either French, julienne or shoe string, the slices being forceddownwardly beneath the knife 20 and through t-he throatway 3 into anysuit-able receiving receptacle and the body of the potato passing`rearwardly ov i' the knife to be temporarily supported by the plate 21until by reciprocatory action the operation is repeated.

The structure I have disclosed is particularly simple and economical tomanufacture and so very compact as Vto rendei'tlie same readily portableand convenient to use.

As a potato, by reason of continued slicing, wears down to a dangerouslythin condition, or before that time, any suitable hand-pusher, such asis indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, may be used to protect thehand against possible injury in cutting. In the figure referred to, Ihavel shown a pusher plate with suitable handle and small sharp bradsprojected from its lower surfaceY to bite into and facilitatereciprocation of the potato over the board and cutting devices.

It is, also possible to use a short bristle wire brush for this purpose,if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the4accon'ipanying drawings, it is thought the novel details ofconstruction, the manner of operation and the advantages of my inventionwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which itrelates.

That I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and havingvertical slicing blades projecting above the top surface of theboard,'and a cross knife mounted upon the board in cooperative relationwith 'the projected blades for traversing the slices made thereby.

2. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and havingvertical slicing` blades projecting above the top surface of the board,`a cross knife, and means for mounting the cross knife upon the board invertically adjustable cooperative relation with the projected blades fortraversing the slices made thereby,

3. A device of the class described coniv prising a base board having arecess therein, i

a slicer unit removably mount-ed in the recess and having bladesprojecting above theV top surface of the board, a cross knifel mountedupon the board in cooperative relation with the projected blades. and asupporting plate extending rearwardly from and on substan-A tially thesame plane with thecross knife.

4. A device of the class described coniprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and havingblades projecting above the top surface of the board, a cross-knife,means for mounting the cross knife upon the board inVverticallyadjustable cooperative relation with the projectedblades, anda supporting plate rigidly secured to the-board. at one end andconnected at its other end to move with the vertically adjustable knifemounting means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess and havingblades projecting above the top surface of the board, a cross knife,means for mounting the cross knife upon the board in verticallyadjustable cooperative relation with the projected blades, said meanscomprising vertical guides mounted on the board, blocksV verticallyslidable on the guides and having slits to receive the knife, andadjusting screws carried by the guides and swivel-connected to theblocks substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit-,removably mounted in the recess andhaving blades projecting above the top surface of the board, a crossknife, means for mounting the cross knife. upon the board in verticallyadjustable cooperative relation With the projected blades, said meanscomprising vertical guides mounted on the board, blocks verticallyslidable on the guides and having slits to receive the knife, adjustingscrews carried by the guides and swivel-connected to the blocks and asupporting plate rigidlysecured to the board at one end, and said blockshaving notches for loosely receiving the other end of the plate to causethe same to move vertically with the said blocks substantially as andforthe purposes described.

7. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, andacross knife mounted upon the board in cooperative relation With theslicer unit, said slicer unit comprising a housing and a plurality ofvertical blades equidistantly spaced therein and projecting thereabovein inclined relation to the board.

8. A .device of the class described comprising a base board having arecess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, acrossknife mounted upon the board in cooperative relation With the slicerunit, said slicer unit comprisingl a housing and a plurality of verticalblades equi-distantly spaced therein and projecting thereabove ininclined relation to the board, and a plurality of cross shoulders inone end of the housing upon selected ones of which one end of theblades'ma-y be rested to i'ix the degree of inclined projection thereofabove the base board. j

9. A device of the class described comrisine a base board havin :arecess there# C said slicer unit comprising ahousing and a plurality ofvertical 'blades equisdistantly spaced therein and projecting thereabovein inclinedrelation to the board, a plurality of cross shoulders in oneend of the housing upon selected ones of which one end of the blades maybe rested to fix the degree of inclined projection thereof above thebase board, and means for mounting the cross knife upon the board invertically adjust-able cooperation with the projected blades.

l0. A device of the class described comprising a base board having arec-ess therein, a slicer unit removably mounted in the recess, saidrecess being of a size to receive the unit in the fore end thereof andto provide a slicings discharge throatway beyond the said unit, a platesecured to the bottom face of the board and projecting over the fore endof the recess to provide a support for the unit, means for removablysecuring` the unit to the projected. end of the plate,

and a vcross knife mounted upon the board incooperative relation Withthe slicer unit, said slicer unit comprising a housing and a pluralityof vertical blades equi-distantly spaced therein and projectingthereabove in inclined relation to the board.

11. In a device of the character described, a slicer unit comprising abox-like receptacle, a gang of vertical knife blades mounted in saidreceptacle, means within the receptacle beneath one edge of said blades`at one end to raise that end of the blades above the upper face of thereceptacle for the purposes described.

12.111 a device of the class described wherein is provided a base havinga recess adapted to receive a slicer unit; a slicer unit comprising abox-like body adapted to t said recess, a gang of thin ieXible slicerblade. mounted edgewise in said body, spacers between said adjacentblades, said body being of a depth substantially' the depth of theblades, and means Within said body beneath the blades at one end toraisel that end whereby to project one end of the blades above the levelof the box-like body thereby to present an inclined cutting edgeprojecting above the face of the body, and clamp screws for securingsaid blades and spacers in the body.

13. A device of the class described comprising a base-board, a pluralityof thin flexible cutting blades mounted Wit-hin the base-board, meansfor securing said blades in spaced relation in the base-board with oneend flush with the upper face of the base-board and the other endelevated above the face of the base-board whereby to provide inclinedcutting edges for the purthe base with one .corner `flush with the upperface of the base and another corner elevated above the face of the basewhereby 10 to provide an inclined cutting edge for Vche purposesdescribed.

FREDERICK H. MILLER.

